‘It’s a criminal intimidation probe’

It has nothing to do with treason, say Sabah police on case lodged by governor

KOTA KINABALU: The alleged threat by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman (pic) against the Yang di-Pertua Negri is being investigated for criminal intimidation.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the probe was focused on criminal intimidation and had nothing to do with treason.

“We are probing the case under criminal intimidation,” he said when contacted yesterday.

The state police chief declined to give further details.

The police report by the Yang di-Pertua Negri surfaced over the weekend when political circles talked of possible threats, after two political leaders were sworn in as chief minister in less than 48 hours.

Musa was sworn in during an apparently delayed ceremony at 11.10pm on May 10, but lost his majority support among state assemblymen 12 hours later.

Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, whose party secured a majority with 35 of the 60 state seats, was sworn in at 9.15pm on May 12.

The situation arose when Barisan won 29 seats, the same number as the total won by Warisan along with its partners DAP and PKR.

Sabah STAR, which emerged as the kingmaker when it won two seats, shifted its support to Barisan.

However, Barisan component party Upko then decided to leave the coalition and support Warisan, giving Shafie an edge.

The police investigation is likely to give a clearer picture on what happened at the Istana Negeri on the night of May 10 amid the political horse trading.

Musa, who has been informed by Istana Negeri that he is no longer chief minister effective May 12, has gone to court seeking a declaration that he is the legitimate chief minister and to nullify Shafie’s appointment.

Since leaving the chief minister’s official residence Seri Gaya on the evening of May 12, Musa flew to Kuala Lumpur where he attended the Umno supreme council meeting chaired by acting president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He has not been seen publicly in Kota Kinabalu or at his political base in Sandakan.